Indicating plate for spray canisters



Oct. 19, 1965 GREEN 3,212,718

INDICATING PLATE FOR SPRAY CANISTERS 4 Filed Aug. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 19, 1965 E. H. GREEN 3,212,713

INDICATING PLATE FOR SPRAY CANISTERS Filed Aug. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

6y gw ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,212,718 INDICATING PLATE FOR SPRAY CANISTERS Edward H. Green, 11 Army Trail Road, Addison, Ill. Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,603 15 Claims. (Cl. 239394) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 362,070, filed April 23, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to an indicating plate for spray canisters, and more particularly is concerned with an indicating plate to be associated with a pressurized package of materials having a variable spray valve installed therein.

Pressurized packages comprise steel canisters having an upper circular opening. Within said opening there is sealed a cover member, said cover member having a valve structure installed therein by means of which the contents of the pressurized package may be dispensed. Various types of valve construction have been used, and the indicating plate which is constructed in accordance with the invention may be used with many of these, but the same is more especially intended for use with a type of valve known as a variable spray valve of a construction such as shown in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 169,841, now Patent No. 3,188,008, and 298,945, now abandoned.

In such variable spray valves it is desirable that several positions to which the valves may be adjusted for presenting ditferent spray rates, be indicated to the user.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the spray rate without in any way changing the manner of constructing, installing or using the valve, without the need for printing any indicia upon a pressurized package, and without the need for varying the construction of the spray head in any way.

Another object of the invention is to provide an indicating plate for spray canisters which is easily installed or moved and readily adjusted, which is extremely simple to manufacture and durable in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an indicating plate of the character described which enhances the appearance of the spray package.

Other objects and advantages will appear as a description of the embodiments set forth hereinafter in connection with which the drawings illustrate the same.

In the said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top of a pressurized package or spray canister having one form of an indicating plate in the form of an insert, constructed in accordance with the invention, installed therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a large scale of the indicating plate or insert itself as disassociated from the package.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the support legs of the insert.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary median sectional view through the canister of FIG. 1 but on an enlarged scale with portions in elevation to show the details thereof.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but illustrating a modified form of indicating plate in the form of a cap member.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the modified form of indicating plate or cap member.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but illus trating the modified form of indicating plate mounted on the package.

Generally the invention is characterized by the provision of an annular member of semi-rigid plastic material adapted to be engaged with the cover member of the pressurized package, said annular member being refer red to herein as an indicating plate. The indicating plate has a central opening of a diameter sufiicient to clear the spray head of the package and there being depending means for securing the indicating plate to the cover member in proper position, said indicating member or plate presenting a planar surface substantially in the plane of the upper end of the cover member, indicia being provided on the surface of the indicating plate to indicate the various spray rates. The invention is further characterized by the construction of the indicating plate member in such a manner as to enable same readily to be manipulated to align with spraying positions of the spray head as the head is rotated relative to its valve.

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate one embodiment of the indicating plate member, in the form of an insert. FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate another embodiment of the indicating plate member, in the form of a cap. The first embodiment is adapted to fit into the well of the cover means, while the second indicating plate member is adapted to fit over the well and engage the outer circumferential wall of the cover means.

Looking now at the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a pressurized package or canister 10 which is constructed to contain the pressure to which the same may be subjected. Said canister has a cylindrical portion 12 with a dome-like upper end 14 having a rolled edge 16 which defines the opening in the canister indicated at 18. During the completion of the pack-age as, for example, by a filler, a cover member designated generally 20 is sealed to the top of the package within the opening 18. This cover member 20 has a bottom transverse wall 22 substantially spaced axially below a curled rim 24 so as to provide a well 26 within the cover mem her. In mounting the cover member 20, the curled rim 24 which has an insert of gasketing material 28, is engaged over the rolled edge 16 and the annular side wall 30 of the cover member is crimped radially outwardly by a suitable chuck, thereby forming a tight seal. In the course of doing so, an annular groove 32 is formed in the side wall 30, having a shoulder 34 at the point where the side wall 30 has been deformed under the rolled edge 16 of the canister 10.

There is an upstanding boss 36 formed in the center of the cover member 20 and the valve, which is designated generally 38, with its housing and internal components, is mounted in this boss and extends below the same. The details of the valve 38 are of no primary importance in this invention but it may be understood that it may be of a type of valve in which there is an open ing at the top of the boss 36 into which the depending stem 40 of a spray head extends, the finger piece 42 of the spray head extending out of the well 26 above the upper edge of the curl 24. The indicating plate may also be mounted to a cover member having a protruding stem type of valve.

The preferred valve is constructed so that there is a extent of rotation capable of being imparted to the spray head 42 and in this rotation three spray rates are achievedfine, medium and coarse. The user merely turns the spray head to the desired position, presses the spray head and releases the pressurized product through the nozzle or external metering orifice.

As understood from previous discussions, it is desired to identify the several locations of the spray head with respect to the valve so that the user may know which of the three spray rates will be achieved when the pushbutton is pressed.

Accordingly a first embodiment of indicating plate member, or insert 50 is provided, the same being best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The insert is preferably formed of a semi-rigid plastic material such as polypropylene so that it may be flexed during installation thereof in a manner to be described.

The said insert 50 has an upper annular wall 52 provided with the indicia 54, the latter in this case comprising the three characters F, M and C signifying fine, medium and coarse. Indicia 54 may be molded integrally with the insert 50. Integral with the upper wall 52 there are provided a plurality of arcuate depending legs 56 circumferentially spaced to enable the same to be flexed. Each leg has an external hook-like flange 58 at its lower edge and an interior integral post portion 60. The legs may be braced by suitable gussets 62.

The insert 50 is installed in the well 26 by the simple expedient of forcing the same into position. The tapered leading edge 64 of each flange assists in flexing each of the legs 56 radially inwardly so that they may pass the rim 24. As soon as the shoulder 34 is reached, the flanges 58 move outwardly because of their inherent resilience and engage under the shoulder all around the same, thereby substantially locking the insert in place. This occurs in a snapping manner. The post portions 60 engage the top surface of the well 22 properly to space the insert so that its top wall 54 will be substantially flush with the upper rim 24 and thereby present a neat and attractive appearance. The post portions 60 may be easily varied for different depths of wells.

An alternative or second embodiment of indicating plate member has been devised utilizing a frictional engagement about the circumference of the outer wall of the cover member. This latter embodiment provides greater ease in fabrication and assembling.

The second embodiment of the invention consists of a cap 150 illustrated in FIGS. through 7. In conjunction with this embodiment the same or similar elements that appear in FIGS. 1 through 4 will be designated by numerals with the added prefix 1 in FIGS. 5 through 7. For example, package of FIGS. 1 through 4 is renumbered 110 in FIGS. 5 through 7 to indicate equivalence of structure and function.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 5 illustrates a pressurized package or canister 110. Said canister has a dome-like upper end 114, having a rolled edge 116 which defines the opening in the canister indicated at 118. The cover member designated generally 120 is sealed to the top of the package 110 within the opening 118 over the rolled edge 116. The structural and functional relationships of cover member 120, transverse wall 122, rim 124, well 126, gasketing material 128, side wall 130, groove 132, boss 136, valve 138, stem 140, and fingerpiece 142 have been previously described in regard to FIGS. L4 and are not repeated here, since these relationships are unchanged in this alternative embodiment.

The cap 150 is also formed of a semi-rigid material so that it too may be flexed during installation thereof somewhat in a manner previously described. Said cap 150 has an upper annular wall 152 provided with indicia 154, the latter in this case indicating fine, medium and coarse. The indicia 154 may be molded integrally with the cap 150. These are shown in the views as clear-through openings. Integral with the upper wall 152 there is provided a depending skirt 80 extending about the circumference of the cap 150. The side wall has a plurality of spaced, inwardly extending protrusions 158 formed on its inner lower edge.

The cap 150 is positioned over the well 126 by the simple expedient of forcing the same into engagement with the cover member, as seen in FIG. 7. The junction of rim 124' of the cover member 120 and edge 116 of canister 110 forms an annular groove 82 about the circumference of the cover member due to the slope of dome-like member 114 and the vertical position of rim 124. The groove 82 has a diameter just slightly smaller than the diameter of the cover means. Protrusions 158 fit into the groove 82 and position the cap on the Canister in engagement with the cover means and over the well, as the cap returns elastically to its unstressed or normal condition because of its inherent resilience. This is a snapping reaction. This is most clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 7.

The cap engages in annular groove 82 in such a manner that the top wall 152 of the cap 150 will be parallel with the bottom transverse wall 122 of well 126. Furthermore, since the cap is formed from thin plastic, the cap 150 will only extend a short distance above rim 124, and will present an attractive appearance.

As may readily be seen the length of the depending wall of the cap member 150 may be readily varied for different depths and positions of annular grooves about the circumference of the cover member. The depth of protrusions 158 similarly may be varied.

When installed both embodiments of indicating plate members are readily rotated by the user to any desired position and will frictionally remain in that position so that the user may have a proper indication of the spray rate. For example, the cap seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 may have a raised nub or finger piece 102 on its upper surface to facilitate the rotation in alignment of the cap. A similar raised nub might be provided for the insert 50 seen in FIGS. 1 through 4 although the raised letters 54 provide this.

It will be appreciated that both of the indicating plate means cover the well and make a package more attractive since the well is usually unsightly, being form-ed of bare materials. In place of, or in addition to said indicia, various advertising matter or ornamentation may be incorporated.

Both embodiments of indicating plate members 50 and 150 may be installed during the filling of the canister or after the same has been filled, since the central openings 70 and are chosen to be of a diameter suflicient to clear the spray heads 42 and 142.

It is believed that the invention has been fully described such to enable those skilled in the art to which this appertains to understand and appreciate the same, and it is desired to point out that variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the same as defined in the appended claims.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An indicating plate member for use with a pressurized package having a cover member provided with an upper rim, and valve means extending axially upward from the center of the cover member, said indicating plate member comprising an upper wall and depending integral means circumferentially spaced around the upper wall adapted frictionally to be engaged With said cover member to mount the indicating plate member to said package, and a recess in said upper wall adapted to clear said valve means.

2. Au indicating plate member as claimed in claim 1 in which said indicating plate member comprises an insert.

3. An indicating plate member as claimed in claim 1 in which said indicating plate member comprises a cap.

4. An indicating plate member as claimed in claim 1 in which indicia are provided on the said upper Wall and said indicating plate member is adapted frictionally to be engaged with said cover member to enable rotation thereof to align said indicia with a part of said valve means.

5. In combination, a spray package having an upper cover member, a variable spray valve secured to said cover member, a spray head axially protruding from the cover member and rotatable to a plurality of positions representing diiferent spray rates, and an indicating plate. member mounted in engagement with said cover member and having indicia to identify the several positions of the spray head and said plate member being movable to align said indicia with said positions.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the indicating plate member is removable.

7. The combination of claim 5 in which said indicating plate member has means to enable same to be removably snapped into engagement with said cover member in a position parallel to the bottom transverse wall of said well.

8. An insert for use with a pressurized package having a cover member provided with an upper rim, a well having a floor spaced below the rim and surrounded by the rim, an annular wall extending between the rim and floor, a radially outward deformation in the wall below the rim to provide shoulder means under the rim, and valve means extending axially upward in the center of the floor, said insert comprising an upper wall and integral legs circumferentially spaced around the upper wall adapted frictionally to be engaged within said well beneath said shoulder means to mount the insert to said package in a recess in the upper wall adapted to clear said valve means.

9. An insert as claimed in claim 8 in which indicia are provided on the said upper wall and said insert is adapted to be frictionally engaged in said well to enable rotation thereof to align said indicia with a part of said valve means.

10. An insert as claimed in claim 8 in which said legs are flexible and provided with hook means adapted to pass said shoulder When the insert is pressed into the well by flexure of said legs, and thence spring outwardly to hook under said shoulder means.

11. An insert as claimed in claim 8 in which said legs have extensions on the bottom ends thereof adapted to engage said floor to locate said upper wall spaced above said floor.

12. In combination, a spray package having an upper cover member provided with a well, a variable spray valve secured to said cover member, a spray head axially protruding from the cover member out of the well and rotatable to a plurality of positions representing different spray rates, and an insert member mounted in the well and having indicia to identify the several positions of the spray head, and movable to align said indicia with said positions.

13. The combination of claim 12 in which the insert is removable.

14. The combination of claim 12 in which said insert has means to enable same removably to be snapped into said well.

15. An indicating plate member for use with a pressurized package having a cover member provided with an upper rim, and valve means extending axially upward from the center of the cover member, said indicating plate member comprising an upper wall and depending integral means circumferentially spaced around the upper wall adapted frictionally to be engaged with said cover member to mount the indicating plate member to said package, and a recess in said upper Wall adapted to clear said valve means, said integral depending means comprising a flexible skirt extending about the circumference of the indicating plate member, and said skirt having protrusions on its inner lower edge to provide frictional engagement with said cover member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,422 10/35 Shonnard 222-48 X 2,598,308 5/52 Samuels et al 239-73 X 2,829,808 4/58 Bodkin 22241 X 3,083,872 4/63 Meshberg 222- 42 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. AN INDICATING PLATE MEMBER FOR USE IWTH A PRESSURIZED PACKAGE HAVING A COVER MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN UPPER RIM, AND VALVE MEANS EXTENDING AXIALLY UPWARD FROM THE CENTER OF THE COVER MEMBER, SAID INDICATING PLATE MEMBER COMPRISING AN UPPER WALL AND DEPENDING INTEGRAL MEANS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED AROUND THE UPPER WALL ADAPTED FRICTIONALLY TO BE ENGAGED WITH SAID COVER MEMBER TO MOUNT THE INDICATING PLATE MEMBER TO SAID PACKAGE, AND A RECESS IN SAID UPPER WALL ADAPTED TO CLEAR SAID VALVE MEANS. 